Pamlico testing defending champ Havelock

Published: Wednesday, July 17, 2013 at 06:48 PM.

“We want to see competitiveness, we want to see pride, we want to see good attitudes, communication and execution.”

Gibbs, a rising senior, was mostly a runner, an option-type of quarterback last season. Through the offseason, he's been allowed to add a few more passing plays to his arsenal.

Gibbs also has a few weapons on offense in Moore, Josiah Simmons, Tarik Davis and Jamal Coffey.

“We are better than we were last year,” said Yost, who was Pamlico's offensive coordinator last season. “We have a lot more athletes. We are not there yet, but hopefully in August we can turn the corner.

“The guys know the system and what we are trying to do.”

Yost has been especially pleased with the defense, a unit coached by Squires and Michael Twichell. Arthur Randall prevented Havelock from scoring a touchdown after reaching his large paw to the sky and knocking down a Havelock pass.

“It doesn't matter how many scholarships (offers) or championship rings they have, let's play our game,” he said.

The Pamlico Hurricanes, winners of just one football game last season, have a different, more optimistic attitude.

Squires' speech was made to pump up his group prior to their final 7-on-7 passing league against the two-time defending 3A state champion Havelock Rams on Wednesday morning.

But it's also a feeling the Hurricanes hope to carry with them into a new season.

For most of the summer, the Hurricanes scrimmaged Havelock on Wednesday in a 7-on-7 passing league which pits offensive skill positions against defensive backs.

“Since (Havelock) won state the past two years, and we see we can compete with them, and I feel like it helps for when we play those teams this season,” said Pamlico quarterback NaQuan Gibbs.

Scrimmaging Havelock weekly is a match-up that first-year Pamlico head coach Kevin Yost hopes will make his team better.

“I respect the heck out of those guys (Havelock),” Yost said. “You don't win back-to-back state championships by accident. Everybody in the state wants to be where they are at.

The Hurricanes have also had 7-on-7 scrimmages against New Bern and West Craven.

“I think our guys, just coming out and competing against them, shows them what a good football team is.”

Gibbs dropped back and fired a strike, split the Havelock defense, to wide receiver Cameron Moore who darted to the end zone for the first score of the scrimmage.

The Hurricanes' offense moved the ball and the defense batted the ball down a few times and came away with a few interceptions.

“I'm really excited about their effort,” Yost said. “We are not world beaters, but we are going to keep working. They are a good group of kids and they want to get better.

“We want to see competitiveness, we want to see pride, we want to see good attitudes, communication and execution.”

Gibbs, a rising senior, was mostly a runner, an option-type of quarterback last season. Through the offseason, he's been allowed to add a few more passing plays to his arsenal.

Gibbs also has a few weapons on offense in Moore, Josiah Simmons, Tarik Davis and Jamal Coffey.

“We are better than we were last year,” said Yost, who was Pamlico's offensive coordinator last season. “We have a lot more athletes. We are not there yet, but hopefully in August we can turn the corner.

“The guys know the system and what we are trying to do.”

Yost has been especially pleased with the defense, a unit coached by Squires and Michael Twichell. Arthur Randall prevented Havelock from scoring a touchdown after reaching his large paw to the sky and knocking down a Havelock pass.